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Social Development Office |
THE VISION
We the Social Development Office of the Diocese of Pretoria, as part of a Christ Centered Community, which is mission orientated are committed to: Creating a healthy sustainable society, free from HIV and Aids, and being developed towards eradicating poverty.
MISSIONThe Social Development Office aims to build a self-sustainable quality of life through the fostering of self-respect, self-discipline and learning among all, especially the young, needy and vulnerable to overcome hunger, poverty and unemployment.
OUR UNDERSTANDING OF SOCIAL DEVELOPMENTSocial development approach uniquely integrates economic and social objectives. It notonly recognizes the critical importance of economic and social development in raising standards of living but actively seeks to harness economic development for social goals. (Service Delivery Model: Department of Social Development)
PROGRAMMATIC AREASECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME:
Garankuwa Beadwork project(Tshepang)
It is made up of 5 members of which only 3 are fully committed. They operate from St Michaels, Garankuwa and meet weekly from Mondays to Wednesdays. The group is made of mainly older women, they have to look after their grandchildren whose parents, have died or terminally ill of AIDS related illnesses.
This group can manage to make a variety of products, i.e. AIDS pins, pen holders, Christmas Decorations. We normally use some of their members to train other groups in a particular design.
This project has 7 member all who are women. They produce candles for church and home use. They have went through some difficulties, when there were close to 15 in a group, however after rearranging the group and providing them with the moulds, they are starting to pick up.
Temba BeadworkIt is made up of 2 women who are , fully committed, they normally work from their homes and meet once a week, normally on Wednesdays at St John’s Themba. They are currently exploring means and ways of including other people for more to benefit. They will be adding on sewing as part of their project as there is interest in that area.
Temba PotteryThe group has 6 members who were trained and are now working from the church premises at St John Temba, The group is struggling in ensuring that products meet the right quality so as to be sold to sustain the project and members. There is a need for a pottery wheel and other basic tools.
Mamelodi BeadworkThere are 3 women working in Mamelodi, All Saints, 2 of them are meeting on Tuesdays and Thursday. They are the most organized of all the groups and are continuously supplying clients, so as to earn their living. They have also established food garden at the church so as to have food security.
Maubane Leather work, beadwork and sewing groupThere are 23 people benefiting from this project, mostly women, meeting everyday in Maubane Village outside Temba. Most of the beneficiaries are attached to the Maubane Chapelry of St John Temba.
Maubane project member with Fr Ndlovu and some of their work
There are 6 people involved in the project mostly men. 1 Women has planted in the yard as she stays far from the garden. This is a rural place in the mining area where locals are not benefiting.
Some of Segwaelane Project members receiving seedlings and some of their gardens at the church
Bethanie Holticulture and Sewing Group
We are still struglling with the Holticulture, as we are waiting for the Department of Labour to approve the program. This has been the case for the past 5 months. The Sewing project started well with 4 industrial machines and 2 overlockers, but the place have experienced cable theft and the project is not continuing.
Carpentry Projects
It is made of 3 young people. 2 had the skills but without equipment, clients nor space to work from. The other one was a young person in parish who was not doing anything but willing to be involved in carpentry. We market them and they do assembly and installation of cupboards, workstations and kitchen units for clients, and make a living.
Mamelodi Beadwork, Sewing and knitting
This is fairly a new group operating from the teachers college in Mamelodi, it is made of 6 women, who are multiskilled. We are currently observing their quality so as to enable them sell their work.
Rustenburg Group
The Rustenburg East group is still struggling, however, with the fieldworker, we hope they will be able to pick up on their progress.
Visitations
Social Development enjoyed visits from the Reverend canon James Callaway who is the Deputy for Anglican Partnerships and Faith Formation , Trinity Wall Street.
Canon Callaway with the candle making and beadwork groups in Garankuwa
Canon Callaway at St John Temba (pottery and beadwork)-left; at Bethanie Sewing- right
Bishop of Reading, The Rt Rev’d Stephen Cotrell with Social Development project members during his visit in the Diocese of Pretoria
HIV AIDS AND HEALTH PROGRAMME
Candle lighting and VCT at St Paul’s in Saulsville
The Candle lighting service was held on the 18th of May 2008 across South Africa. This was done to remember those who have passed on due to HIV/ Aids.
The Diocesan candle lighting service was held at St Paul’s in Saulsville where the theme of the day was, “Keep the promise, know your status” The purpose of the event was to remember those who had passed on and to celebrate positive living with HIV. The event started with a Procession of Witness led by the Revd. Canon JR Dhladhla followed by the Eucharist service and candle lighting which was incorporated within the service.
We were blessed to have Ms Maria Shole who spoke strongly against stigma and discrimination to those who are HIV Positive. She advised those who were present to go and get tested for HIV and explained that you can take better care of yourself once you know your status either positive or negative. After the moving speech by Ms Shole, we witnessed as the Revd. Canon JR Dlhadlha move from the Sanctuary to come and share the light with his congregation reflecting that HIV/ Aids affects us all
On this day 62 people got tested for HIV, most of them were young people. When asked why were they getting tested for HIV most of them simply responded by saying that the time has come for them to know their status. Their minds were made up and there was no turning back. Let us get tested and know our statuses. I know mine, do you?
Canon Dhladhla at the Service of Witness, and candle light
We continue to care for over 250 orphans and vulnerable children throughout the Diocese. Recently we have ensured that 85 orphans can enjoy their day at the Pretoria Zoo, this was done in partnership with South African Police Services (SAPS).
HUMMANITARIAN (RELIEF) PROGRAMME
Anglicans taking the lead in caring
‘Whenever you did this for one of the least important of these members of my family, you did it for me’. Mat 25:40b
This was part of the reading that Bishop Seoka read at the Church Leaders meeting that he called so as to collectively respond the situations emanating from the Xenophobic Violence, particularly, displaced asylum seekers.
The situation started when displaced asylum seekers were found shelter in the Akasia, area. The first group of 500 arrived at the site on the 26 May, in rainy and cold conditions, with only 2 big tents to accommodate them. The next day the Diocesan Social Development Coordinator made a call to parishes to have a quick response, which lead to a collection and distribution of aid worth over R60 000 within 2 days.
The numbers have increased to over 1500 and counting as there are people coming in everyday.
First group to bring aid to the Akasia Camp, set up systems and tents for receiving goods.
The Church Leaders, met, resolved to set up a Disaster Management Committee which will oversee progress and aids on the ground, and to visit the Camp in to offer the ministry of presence and to listen to the needs of the communities and to see how they can help resolve the situation.
Church leaders at the camp,talking and listening to the peoples concerns.
The Disaster Management Committee of the Church Leaders in Tshwane, have been assessing the needs and calling for responses. The needs are ever-changing as some are met, some arises. The Situation is expected to continue at least for the minimum period of 2 months. Please call Keba at 0836838226 is you wish to know what is needed.
We continue to thank the parishes and members for their generosity as we have already collected collectively, close to R100 000 worth of aid from St Barnabas Mabopane, Cathedral, Corpus Christi, St Martins Irene, St Hildas Gezina, St Marys DSG, St Francis Waterkloof, St Judes, Haartebeespoort, St Timothy The Reeds, St Pauls Atteridgeville and many others.
Canon Ohlson taking stock of donations and a bakkie full of donations from St Martins
Besides responding well to the crisis, the Anglicans in the Diocese continues to support over 150 needy families with food parcels and blankets on a monthly basis.
CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMEClergy Conference on Social Development
Clergy Conference on Social Development, with 28 clergy in attendance, facilitated by Canon Lambrechts, who presented on the role of the Anglican Aids Office, Stigma and its effects, A case study on Orphan Care and a Liturgy resource for occasions. Keba Matlhako also did a presentation on Social development approach and expectations from parishes. Mrs Petrina Pakoe, HOPE Africa, presented on the Poverty and Development Course for clergy, and the recommendations from the TEAM conference, on the Millenium Development Goals.
Clergy were keen to attend the Poverty and Development Course, and came with the recommendations that we need to have properly structured and standardized Gender and Marriage Preparations programme’s for the Diocese.
Clergy focusing at the Clergy Conference (left) and during tea(right)
Awareness creation
As part of creating awareness of this diocesan vision statement and of Social Development as an entity within the Diocese, the Pretoria East Archdeaconry and the Parish of Trinity Lynnwood, a Social Development Eucharist was held in that parish on Sunday 8th June.
Emphasis on Social Development was placed during the sermon, the prayers and through an interactive exhibition of various projects in the hall after tea. To this end, six speakers (Dr Wilma Lotter from the Itumeleng Street shelter, Janine Rowley from Women Against Rape, Mrs Helen Ngoashang from the Drop-In Centre at St Francis, Mamelodi West , Bickly McKechnie and Annette Wing from Trinity Lynnwood on behalf of the parish’s involvement with Silverton Police Station, Jessica McCarter ,deacon at Trinity and Dr Annekie Brink, also of Trinity Lynnwood on behalf of the parish’s involvement in the refugee crisis) gave meaningful input both in terms of information regarding the projects as well as how people in the parish could make a contribution. Trinity was also glad to welcome the Diocesan Co-ordinator for Social Development, Keba, who was able to answer questions concerning the exhibition.
Mrs Hellen Ngoasheng, One of the Founders of the St Francis Mamelodi Drop in Centre. Presenting the Project.
